Thailand Consults on Allowing Minors to Play Snooker and Billiards Amid Boxing Supervision Shift

Key summary

The Department of Provincial Administration in Thailand has opened a public consultation period running from Thursday, October 22 to November 22 regarding proposed amendments to gambling laws. The draft changes aim to allow individuals under the age of 18 to play and train in snooker and billiards, overturning restrictions established by Ministerial Regulation No. 17 of 1960 issued under the Gambling Act of 1935. This proposal addresses a conflict between the current regulation, which bars minors from these activities, and the Professional Sports Promotion Act of 2013, which recognizes billiards as a professional sport. The draft also proposes transferring supervision of boxing promoters from the Department of Physical Education and provincial education offices to the Sports Authority of Thailand to align with the Boxing Act of 1999. Deputy government spokeswoman Ploythalay Laksameesangchan stated the goal is to remove outdated legal restrictions. Specific conditions for minors participating in snooker and billiards have not yet been published, and no changes take effect during the consultation period.